RUNNERS braved the heat and raised thousands for charity in Sunday's London Marathon.

Enthusiastic amateurs from across the county joined the 32,000-strong throng and completed the gruelling 26-mile course.

Wayne Palmer, 33, from Trowbridge, raised £2,000 for Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley, completing the marathon in 5hrs 20 mins.

He said: "It was an absolutely fantastic experience. I ran further than I have ever run in my life. It was a once in a lifetime experience."

l John Magill, 44, from Trowbridge, raised £1,700 for the Get Kids Going charity, which provides wheelchairs for disabled youngsters.

He completed the course in just under four hours and said the toughest part was the weather.

"The fact that it was so warm caught a lot of people out and I was dehydrated rather than anything else. I thoroughly enjoyed it."

Marathon veteran Ted Rockliffe, 59, could be hanging up his running shoes after Sunday's effort.

Mr Rockliffe completed the course in just under four hours, raising £1,500 for the Wessex MS Therapy centre in Warminster.

He said: "I felt quite tired and it was the slowest I have run it and could well be my last."

Mr Rockliffe's daughter, Jacqui, a member of the Avon Valley Runners, also ran in the event, clocking up a time of 3hrs 32mins.

Husband and wife team Chris and Ali Atkinson both completed the course in fine form.

Mr Atkinson, running with the Avon Valley Runners, finished in 3hrs 27mins, while his wife, who was running in aid of the Breast Cancer Campaign, clocked a time of 4hrs 19mins.

For 39-year-old Mrs Atkinson it was her first marathon and she was inspired to take part after her best friend, Sharon Gingell, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Mrs Gingell travelled to London with Mrs Atkinson and was there to cheer her on as she crossed the finishing line.

Mrs Atkinson said: "I had a fabulous time. At about 18 to 21 miles I was thinking I couldn't do it.

"I just couldn't move and had to walk for a couple of minutes, then I started slowly running but when I saw the 22-mile mark it was like someone had injected me with energy.

"The first thing I though when I crossed the finishing line was that I want to do that again."

Julia Scott, 41, from Hilperton, completed the route in 4hrs 26mins, raising more than £2,000 for the Breast Cancer Campaign in memory of her cousin, Sharon Vizard, who died from the disease,

Chris Tebbutt, running on behalf of St James's Church Sudan Health Centre appeal, raised more than £5,000 with the help of the generous congregation.